Establishing National CoR Framework A Complex Undertaking
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) recently said a national Chain of Responsibility regime will be complex undertaking involving a lot of work but it would be worth it.
The NHVR made the revelation at this Chain of Responsibility Conference.
Michael Crellin said at the CoR conference that establishing a national CoR framework would include a lot of hard work but was attainable within 2 years.
Now the NHVR wants more consistent cross border investigative standards related to CoR. It also wants investigators who are “highly-trained” and “well resourced”.
Crellin, responsible for Chain of Responsibility for the NHVR delivered a talk on the subject at this year’s Chain of Responsibility and Heavy Vehicle Safety Conference. In his address he laid out his CoR plans.
Mr Crellin explained;
“The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator at the moment is trying to develop a truly national COR investigative capability,” Crellin says.
“I’m kind of estimating probably 18 months to two years, but that is not to say that we won’t have that capability before then. It’s probably at the level that we really want it to be at about that time.”
A national system is the ultimate goal, Crellin highlighted but getting multiple jurisdictions to commit to the national system would be more difficult.
Mr Crellin went on to explain:
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done. There are a lot of jurisdictions that need to be taken for that ride because we do have a disparate commitment across the nation,” he says.
“In addition to that we have the challenge of making sure that our investigators do have the capability that we’re interested in.
“That may require a lot more training, a lot more education and a lot more involvement in regards to making sure we’re not only attracting the right people but we’re giving them the information, the tools and the skills to do what it is that needs to be done.”
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator also wants to release chain of responsibility guidance materials for trucking operators as soon as next year. The guides will benefit everyone in the supply chain by informing them of their obligations under the law.
The released of the guidance materials are expected to coincide with scheduled changes to Chain of Responsibility, particularly the introduction of primary duty of care provisions.
The legislative amendments are likely to be taken into consideration by Transport Ministers by next year.
The 10th annual Chain of Responsibility and Heavy Vehicle Safe conference was recently held and included talks from the Roads and Maritime Services, industry group Road Freight New South Wales, Victoria Police, Toll and the National Transport Commission (NTC).
Read more at http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1512/cor-2015-national-cor-investigations-within-two-years-nhvr-says/
